Find out how popular the last name Olmedo is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Olmedo.

Olmedo, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Olmedo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olmedo in America

Olmedo is the 5967th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olmedo surname appeared 5,768 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Olmedo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olmedo to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Olmedo

The surname Olmedo is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the town of Olmedo in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain. The name is derived from the Latin word "Ulmetum," which means "place of elms" or "elm grove," indicating that the town or area was likely known for its abundance of elm trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Olmedo appears in the Becerro de las Behetrías, a historical document from the 14th century that recorded the names of noble families and their lands in Castile. This suggests that the Olmedo surname had already established itself among the nobility by that time.

In the 15th century, records show the existence of a prominent noble family called Olmedo, who held significant influence and landholdings in the region of Valladolid. One notable member of this family was Alonso de Olmedo (c. 1455-1534), a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico and played a crucial role in establishing Spanish rule in the Americas.

Another historical figure bearing the surname Olmedo was Diego de Olmedo (c. 1470-1529), a Spanish friar and theologian who served as an advisor to King Charles V of Spain. He was known for his involvement in the religious and political affairs of the Spanish Empire during the early 16th century.

In the realm of literature, the surname Olmedo is associated with José Joaquín de Olmedo (1780-1847), an Ecuadorian poet, politician, and statesman. He is considered one of the greatest poets of the Americas and is renowned for his epic poem "La Victoria de Junín," which commemorates the Battle of Junín during the Peruvian War of Independence.

Another notable figure with the surname Olmedo was Domingo de Olmedo (c. 1500-1570), a Spanish architect and military engineer who was actively involved in the construction of various fortifications and buildings in Spain and its colonies during the 16th century.

While the surname Olmedo has its origins in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including Latin America, where it remains a prominent surname in countries like Mexico, Ecuador, and Colombia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olmedo

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Olmedo.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Olmedo was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Olmedo has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Olmedo was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Olmedo, please contact us.

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